Christmas number two at my Grandparents, including a visit to the beautiful Hampton Court

Blimey, November feels like a long time ago. I’ve barely been in Edinburgh over the last couple of months. I’ve spent a couple of weekends in London, a long weekend at home, and took a couple of week’s holiday so I could really spend time with my family over Christmas. I thought the time off would give me a chance to get some things done, do some blogging, get organised, but as usual the run up to Christmas was too hectic for any of that! I’m so used to living alone, I forget how time consuming it can be to live with others, haha.

November was relatively quiet travel-wise and I spent a lot of time focusing on work. We kick-started a workshop programme, ran a big weekend event and I stumbled through a much-dreaded presentation. I often feel like I have space in my mind for only one project at a time – either I’m mulling over work plans in my head over lunch and in the shower, or I’m thinking about my blog. I’m sure I’ll never be one of those people that can work full time and blog regularly unless my job was mentally un-challenging. So, the blog took a bit of a back seat in November. I saw the Low Anthem and ate my way around Glasgow’s best vegan restaurants for a day. I had regular brunch with friends (Sunday Funday!), explored a forest in the Highlands, shivered through Edinburgh’s monthly vegan market and lay on the grass at night to watch the super moon.

I spent a lot of December in London. James was in Edinburgh throughout his reading week, so I owed him a backlog of visits! He’s moved to a flat in South London with one of my best friends, which is perfect for me because I get to visit them both at once. We’ve done a lot of eating out – Mooshies, Vegan Hippo, Cafe Van Gough, Mildred’s, Itadaki Zen and Black Cat Cafe. The vegan food options in London are seriously improving, it’s (almost) hard for me to keep up! One of my favourite Christmas traditions is to go and see The Nutcracker. I’ve previously been to the stunning Royal Ballet production in Birmingham, but it always finishes before I’m back in the Midlands, so this year my Mum, brother and I hopped on the train from Leicester to see the English National Ballet version in London. It was so beautiful, I shed a tear. What I would do for a sugar plum fairy dress!

Christmas this year was just how I like it – a traditional family affair at home, relaxed as always, and surrounded by animals. I saw a lot of old friends and talked a lot to my bunny rabbit Archie, who likes my room the best. After Christmas I saw more family at my Grandparents place in Surrey, before whizzing back up to Scotland in the car for New Years in the Highlands.

Seeing in 2017 from a cottage in the countryside with a bunch of my favourite people was exactly what I’d wanted. I always find that physical space away from your real life gives you corresponding head space, to think about what you’re doing and where you want to be. I’m not usually big on resolutions – I sometimes make them hardheartedly but often forget about them, and never keep them. This New Year’s I felt particularly reflective. I’m at a time in my life where there’s nothing really coming up on the horizon. I love where I live, and I love my job. I’d quite like them to stay the same. It’s very unlike being in education and working towards a milestone – the next year, the next degree, a first job, a promotion. There aren’t really promotions in my line of work, just different jobs, different hours. It’s nice, I like that stability and although I feel insecure about it sometimes (it’s important for me that my work is meaningful but I’m not that career-minded) it gives me space to work on other areas of self-improvement. I want to be more magical in 2017; I’m writing a gratitude diary and learning about herbalism. It’s exciting, I haven’t been this self-motivated to learn in a long time. I want to do yoga regularly, read before bed and see more live music. I’m going to 100% stop buying new clothes made in sweatshops, no excuses. What about you – do you have any resolutions for the New Year?

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16 responses to “November and December In Review”

You and I are 100% having the same thoughts in that last paragraph! Seriously, I picked my word for the year (don’t usually), and it’s space. I think I will write it all up for goals on Wednesday if you’d like to read. But yes, I am 100% with you on needing space, wanting to do yoga, find more magic, etc. I agree that the time after reaching each new milestone is kind of strange. It’s weird not to be striving for something. It’s good to be content, but you’ve got to come up with your own goals big and small to give yourself something to work toward. Even if it’s a relaxed goal! I also love the Nutcracker so much. We went this year in our bigger metro and it was the loveliest most imaginative version I’ve ever seen. Just beautiful! Glad you went too! Good luck with your goals and reflecting for 2017! XO – Alexandra

Ahh Alexandra i just read your New Years post and you’re right, we’re on the same wavelength! I like to have “projects” in my personal life to work on as well as at work, it gives me an excuse to be creative and get excited about things that I’m doing in my spare time. This blog is one of them! I think it fills a gap when there aren’t big work / education related goals to work towards. I’m so glad you got to see the Nutcracker! The Birmingham one is my fave because the set design is so beautiful, you watch the tree GROW when the toys come to life! xx

I’m so jealous that you went to see The Nutcracker! I adore the music, and tell myself to go every year but then always leave it too late. That’s a resolution, for one. I’m also striving to buy only ethically made clothes this year, and to not use any disposable coffee cups!

I’ve never been to Black Cat cafe, but it’s definitely on the list! Itadaki Zen really impressed me. London is pretty good when it comes to vegan food, I agree.

It’s beautiful isn’t it! I actually need to go and see more ballets, I just go to the same one every year at the moment haha. Buying ethically made clothes is a great resolution, it’s one of mine too. Maybe we could share resources? There are a couple of things I’m struggling with – like where do I buy new tights?

A couple of years ago I was kind of disappointed with the vegan food selection in London but I think it’s improving, still nothing on Glasgow but there are lots of places I haven’t tried yet! x

Yes! I might set up a Pinterest board with ideas about ethical fashion, I’ll Tweet out a link to it if I do. Tights are one I’ve struggled with as well – I’ve found Marks & Spencers’ ones last well but can’t be sure that they’re ethically produced It might just be one of those areas where we have to admit defeat. I also found some the other day on a site called “The Acey” – could be worth checking out! x

That would be brilliant, I would definitely follow! M&S actually have a made in the UK range of tights – I’ve emailed them to ask about their factory policies so it will be interesting to see if they get back to me! Thanks for the recommendation, I will look it up

I saw the Nutcracker for the first time last year in Russia (how fitting). The women who took me said it was a horrible performance, but I thought it was great. I’m not a dancer so what I do I know! Your November and December sounded great! It’s sometimes good to have a relaxing time especially over the holidays!

I love this Jess! My parents live right by Hampton Court – can you believe I’ve never still never been. My new years resolution last year was no high street/brand clothes and this year I’m trying to do ONLY secondhand clothes. Not quite worked out what to do about underwear – I’m trying to find decent deadstock places but I have an annoyingly hard-to-find bra size. So we’ll see how that works out!

No I can’t believe it, you should go! I really like Hampton Court, especially the old maze and gardens. Deadstock is a good idea – I’m really struggling with finding new tights at the moment. I also always struggle to find second hand jeans that fit even though I know there are loads out there. I’m so sad that American Apparel has closed down – I loved their triangle bras!

Hello there! Nice to meet you, I'm Jess. Twenty-four. Edinburgh. Tree hugger. Obsessed with Halloween. I like elephants and bell bottoms and my bunny rabbit Archie. You can usually find me in the pub, watching Buffy, hunting down vegan junk food or crocheting on the sofa.